Machu Picchu - A Salute to the Inca People

From Cusco we took a train to Aqua Caliente - a
small tourist town at thebase of Machu Picchu.

We awoke to find ourselves at the bottom of narrow valley, surrounded by towering, sheer monolyths, shrouded in clouds. A dramatic start to a breath-taking day! From there we took a twenty minute bus ride up the very steep mountains to Machu Picchu - the ruins of an Inca community.

Interesting facts I gleaned from the guides:

• These ruins circa 1500 AD.


• These ruins were discovered in 1912 by an historian, Hiram Bingham.


• The Inca built these structures within 100 years.


• People did not pay tax, instead they were required to give two months of every year to the building and construction of the community.


• The facility was used by the leaders, nobility and learned people primarily for political and religious purposes. It was a place for learning. People would come from all over South America to study.


• It was also a place of worship. The people worshiped the Sun (the world above - symbolised by the Condor), the Earth (the plant and animals - symbolised by the Puma), and the world below (symbolised by the snake). They would make offerings by sacrificing animals (not people!).


• Pilgims would come to worship - they would bring a stone and food with them as contribution.


• The disciplines taught were: philosophy, medicine, agriculture, astronomy and religion. The women were also taught cooking and the preparation of halucingenic drinks for medical purposes .


• The Spanish did not find this community - the Inca fled when they knew the Spanish were in Cusco, taking their gold and treasures with them.


• About 500 permanent residents lived here.


• The people grew all their food including: avocado, tapioca, chilli, sweet potatoes, passionfruit, papaya, chirimoya, quinoa.


• Agricultural research was a primary focus - acclimatising plants for the high altitude. There are marked temperature differences between the terraces - each suited for a different crop.


• The rocks are granite - hewn by bronze tools as well as sand, water and hammers.


• They built high on this mountain (2860m above sea level) because of: the access to spring water, the abundance of rocks on the mountain, high position (protection from enemies), access to the jungle (special plants-coca), and built near the Inca capital - Cusco.


• The city is fully irrigated - channels carry fresh spring water throughout the housing area and down the terraces.

Off to buy chocolate now!

Adios